| Have you ever wondered why leather is so popular | | | | Europe. Leather was used for clothes and other |
| and has great appeal? Well, let me say that besides | | | | garments such as gloves, vests called jerkins, |
| resembling fashion prestige, leather was preliminarily | | | | jackets, and boots. Further, when the Europeans |
| used for practical purposes. Explore how leather | | | | arrived in America, they found Indians wearing |
| usage and leather clothes have evolved over time! | | | | clothes made of buckskin or buffalo hide. The Indians |
| In the beginning, it was more of a question of | | | | used all parts of the animal when they hunted for |
| durability than aesthetic admiration when the earliest | | | | food, clothes, and shelter. When the colonists settled |
| inhabitants of this planet discovered that animal skins | | | | in the New World, they learned the oil tanning |
| were more practical to wear than to eat. Man's first | | | | method from the Indians and supplemented it to the |
| real garments consisted of raw hides. Later, in the | | | | knowledge they had with them from Europe. |
| Stone Age, bone tools were used to clean and sew | | | | Tanneries were in existence throughout the colonies |
| pelts into crude clothing. Nevertheless, the clothing | | | | by the end of the 17th century. |
| was not tanned, and, therefore, it was not what we | | | | A hundred years later, a break-through was made |
| perceive today as leather. | | | | when it was discovered that oak bark was not the |
| The origins of tanning are unclear. However, the | | | | only plant derivative that could be used for tanning. |
| ancient Hebrews are recognized to be the ones who | | | | Extracts from other plants popular in North |
| created an oak bark process that is still used today. | | | | America--the bark of hemlock and chestnut |
| Leather was a vital trade product throughout the | | | | trees--proved to be equally effective. |
| cradle of civilization. History has claimed that the | | | | Leather production became less onerous and |
| sea-faring Phoenicians permeated the colorful | | | | affordable during the nineteenth century where there |
| influence of Babylonian embroidered and adorned | | | | were many advances made in the leather industry. |
| leatherwork to other Mediterranean countries. Also, in | | | | For instance, an American chemist devised a tanning |
| Egypt, numerous leather artifacts that have lasted | | | | method using chromium salts that took a few hours |
| for thousands of years were found in the tombs of | | | | in lieu of the weeks or months needed for vegetable |
| Pharaohs. In addition, since there are a myriad of | | | | tanning. In addition, machines were developed that |
| references to leather in the Old Testament, it is | | | | cut, even further, the time needed to make leather. |
| believed that it was during that particular era that | | | | Today's leather has to go through several steps of |
| people started to utilize leather for different | | | | cleaning and soaking before tanning. Then, the hides |
| purposes, such as making leather clothes. | | | | are sorted, graded, and split into varying thickness by |
| The first recorded tanner's guild appeared during the | | | | machines. Some skins are chosen to make suede, |
| early days of the Roman Empire. The craftsmanship | | | | where the flesh side of the skin is buffed to produce |
| of sandals and boots was so significant that their | | | | its characteristic pile. This process is followed by |
| quality brought status to the owner. Furthermore, | | | | tanning, using either chemical or vegetable tans, |
| Roman armies found the nomadic Teutonic tribes | | | | depending upon the type of leather desired. Next, |
| fully dressed in leather (for protection against the | | | | the skins are washed, pressed, and polished. Some |
| cold weather) when the armies raided the north of | | | | skins are oiled, greased, or waxed. Others are dyed |
| Europe. When the Roman armies returned to Rome, | | | | in many colors, usually with coal tar or aniline dyes. |
| the soldiers adopted the barbaric custom of wearing | | | | Finally, as history has attested, leather methods will |
| leather pants, called braccae. The Emperor tried to | | | | be constantly improved over time. And we are |
| stop the phenomenon, but to no avail. Eventually, all | | | | grateful for the richness and affordable variety |
| men won over to the new style. | | | | available to all of us! A lot of what we know now is |
| During the Renaissance, tanners' guilds existed all over | | | | because of our innovative, industrious anscetors. |